Basketball apparatus with a visual game signal



Sept. 10, 1957 D. F. LOPAS 2,805,861

BASKETBALL APPARATUS WITH A VISUAL GAME SIGNAL Filed Jan. 3, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet l of! w i i O. k o N R I d m 1 (0 I11 lg U 2 /ul 9 U i Q a Q (if INVLNTOR.

m DOUGLAS FARRELL oPAs ATTORNEYS D. F. LOPAS .Sept. 10, 1957 BASKETBALL APPARATUS WITH A VISUAL GAME SIGNAL 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 3, 1956 HLL 2,805,861 Patented Sept. 10,1957

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BASKETBALL APPARATUS WITH A VISUAL GAlVIE SIGNAL Douglas Farrell Lopas, San Francisco, Calif.

Application January 3, 1956, Serial No. 556,850

1 Claim. (Cl. 2731.5)

The present invention relates to improvements in a basketball apparatus with a visual game signal. It consists of the combinations, constructions and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter described and claimed.

At the present time a buzzer system is used in connection with a basketball game to call time out. Frequently, however, the referee on the floor is unable to hear the buzzer, because of the noise and confusion incident to the game. Accordingly, it is proposed to provide a transparent backboard on which the goal-basket is mounted, and to arrange a light rearwardly of the backboard, in a position to direct its beam through the backboard toward the court, when the light is illuminated by the closing of the buzzer circuit. Therefore, the referee will be given both visual and audible signals that time out has been called.

Other objects and advantages will appear as the specification continues. The novel features will be set forth in the claim hereunto appended.

Drawings For a better understanding of the invention reference should be had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this application, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a basketball court, disclosing my apparatus installed at one end thereof;

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line IIII of Figure 1;

Figures 3 and 4 are side and front elevational views, respectively, of the apparatus.

While I have shown only the preferred form of my invention, it should be understood that various changes, or modifications, may be made within the scope of the appended claim without departing from the spirit thereof.

Detailed description Referring to the drawings, Figure l discloses a fragmentary portion of a conventional basketball court, which is designated generally at A. The border of this court includes side lines and an end line 11. In following the usual practice, the free-throw lane or zone 12 has been shown, over which the goal-basket 14 should be mounted, at a short distance inwardly from the end line. My basketball apparatus with a visual game signal is indicated generally at B; and, of course, this apparatus will be duplicated, with one being arranged at each end of the court.

As shown, this apparatus includes -a supporting frame C having a transparent backboard D mounted thereon in upright position, with the latter being disposed above the court A. The goal-basket 14 consists of the conventional tubular netting, which is supported in front of the backboard by a ring-shaped bracket 15.

In its structural details, the frame C defines upright standards or legs 16 having triangular-shaped side frames 17 secured to the upper ends thereof. Transverse members 18 extend between the frames 17 at the top of the standards 16. As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the vertical 7 members 17a of the triangular frames, together with a pair of transverse members 18a, define a rectangularshaped frame E of open construction, against which the transparent backboard D is abutted and secured.

It will be noted that a light F is disposed rearwardly of the backboard D, and is positioned to direct its beam 19 through the backboard, unobstructed by the frame B, when this light is illuminated. As shown in the drawings, the light is disposed at a higher elevation above the court A than the goal-basket 14, and is arranged on a vertical plane 20 (see Figure 4), which extends through the goal-basket substantially at right angles to the backboard. This will give the referee on the floor a clear view of the light. For best results, the beam should be a dull red or amber so that it will not confuse the players, in the event that a play is in progress when time out is called. The rules of the game provide that a play shall not be interrupted when the ball is in motion or a player is in the free-throw lane or zone; and thus a player may attempt a goal, even though .time out has been called.

Moreover, the light F is adjustably carried by a support 21 for swinging of the light in a vertical plane, whereby its beam 19 may be elevated or depressed. For this purpose, the casing 22 of the light is secured to the upper part of the support 21 by a clamp bolt 23. This support has been illustrated as being secured to a horizontal member 24, the latter extending between and being secured to the triangular frames 17.

With particular reference to Figure 2, it will be observed that a socket 25 is provided on the interior of the casing 22 so that a light globe 26 may be screwed thereinto. This globe may be red or amber in color; and, preferably, should be about watts in size so that it will not be too brilliant when being viewed by the players or referee. Of course, when a red or amber glass is utilized over the front of the casing, a clear globe may be used. A grille 26a has been provided in Figure 2 so as to protect the globe, or the glass of the light, from being damaged when the light is struck by the basketball.

In Figure l, I have illustrated a table G at which the scorekeeper and timekeeper may be seated. An electrical circuit H has been shown for selectively connecting the light globe 26 to a source of power 27, when a manually-actuated switch 28 is closed by the timekeeper. Also, a suitable audible signal device, such as a buzzer 29, is connected into the electrical circuit for being sounded simultaneously with the illumination of the light. Therefore, it will be apparent that when the switch 28 is closed by the timekeeper so as to sound the buzzer, the light will be illuminated at the same time. Then, in the event that the referee on the floor is unable to hear the buzzer, when time out has been declared, the light will give him visual notice. This same information will be available to the players.

One of the advantages of the device is that at the end of the first and third quarters or at the end of the half or at the end of the game, the time keeper in pressing the button for sounding the buzzer would also cause the red lights to be illuminated. This would give the referee the opportunity to see the lights and note whether any player who had the ball would make a throw for the basket either just before the buzzer sounded and the red lights were illuminated, or just after. If the player shot for the basket after the buzzer sounded and the red lights were illuminated, the score would not count if a basket were made. On the other hand if the basketball left the players hands just before the buzzer sounded and the red lights went on and the ball passed through the basket, the score would count. This is the main object of the device.

I claim: t

The combination with a basketball court having a back board with a basket suspended therefrom: of a signal light associated with the backboard and positioned for directing its beams toward the'court so that a referee on'the court would see the light beams when facing the back-' board and when the light was turned on; an audible signal for indicating the end of a playing period on the court; and a manuallywontro'lled switch for siinriltane= ously connecting the signal light and the audible'signal with a source of electric current when the switchis closed; whereby the audible signal and signallight will function a at the same time and should the referee not hear the and:

ible signal because of the noise of the game, he will see the illuminated signal light; the backboard being trans- References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Dollison' et a1. July 6, 1937 Peterson June 7, 1955 

